4MIN READBro. Eli Soriano, via live streaming, gives his inspirational message to the attendees of the A Song of Praise Music Festival season 5 grand finals held at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City on November 7, 2016. The international televangelist explains the importance of singing praises to the Lord as a way to unify people despite religious differences since everyone is united in praising God. (Kenneth Valladolid, Photoville International)

Through ASOP Music Festival, the songwriting tilt that encourages amateur and professional composers to craft beautiful songs of praises, people of different religious groups become united in praising God.

This was expressed by Bro. Eli Soriano, the Overall Servant of the Members Church of God International, during UNTV’s ASOP TV Season 5 Grand Finals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on November 8 this year.

Thousands flock the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City to witness the A Song of Praise (ASOP) Music Festival which featured winning songs from the 5th season of the TV program. (Prince Marquez, Photoville International)

“It (ASOP Music Festival) may not be very important to other people, but for someone who is well-versed in the content of the Bible, this is a very important event that gathers different people despite their religious differences since we are being united in praising God,” remarked Bro. Eli.

“All of us are creations of God; all of us are indebted to God. We owe Him the sweetest, the most beautiful praise since we have nothing else to offer God but to offer Him our thanksgiving, our praise to His name,” ended Bro. Eli.

He also expressed hope that “A Song of Praise International” will push through. Bro. Eli hoped someday to invite other races to participate, composing praise songs to God in other languages, not only Tagalog and English.

A Place In Eternity

The international televangelist then invited composers and non-composers to craft songs worthy to be called ‘immortal songs’ – or songs “that will supercede the existence of our heaven now and our earth.”

According to Bro. Eli, the music to God existed long before the world was, more so will the same remain until eternity.

Bro. Eli quoted the Book of Job in chapter 38 and Revelation 15:3 to emphasize this point. According to the verses, all the songs of the past that were intended for God, even those of Moses and the past kings, will be sung in eternity!

In comparison to worldly songs, the songs meant for God are more worthy, according to Bro. Eli.

There are many heartwarming songs of men. Bro. Eli even made reference to some so-called ‘immortal songs’ by Superstar Nora Aunor, celebrity-judge at the composition-based event. But the true ‘immortal songs’ are these songs of praise worthy of eternity.

“When the world was created, the angels [did] sing, so I can say… that singing for [the purpose of] praising God begun before the world. So as an art, music is older than earth itself,” the international televangelist enthused.

The grand prize went to 19-year old Noemi Ocio for composing “Kumapit Ka Lang,” which was interpreted by Mela Ravanilla. ASOP Music Festival gave P500,000 to the ‘Song of the Year’ winner.

ASOP Music Festival is the only program of its kind to date and is a brainchild of Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon, the CEO and Chairman of Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International (BMPI), the content provider for UNTV News and Rescue.